100 People Who Care PEC is giving a hand up to those who need to use the services of the Picton United Church Food Bank.

The charity will receive a windfall in excess of $12,000 after being selected as the second recipient of the group’s no-fuss funding program.

More than 120 members of 100 People Who Care attended Monday’s meeting at the Waring House in Picton. The Food Bank, County FM 99.3 and Hospice Prince Edward made the random draw to proceed to the vote. Wellington Rescue and County Kids Read were also presented for the draw.

Four times a year, each member of 100 People Who Care PEC brings (or sends) a $100 cheque to a meeting and, if they wish, the name of a worthy charity. Following a short time for networking, three candidate charity names are drawn from a hat. The people who put forth the names drawn may speak briefly to the work of their charity of choice. From there, a vote names the winner of that meeting’s funding – which increases as membership grows.

Sandra Norval, a volunteer with the food bank, made the pitch.

“I was so overwhelmed and overjoyed that the food bank be awarded this amount. It will go a long way toward supporting our clients,” she said. “Money is the most beneficial support for the food bank, allowing us to purchase the items most needed and beneficial for our clients.”

As a frontline interviewer, Norval meets the clients that come in once a month.

“These people have a story, and are not happy to be there. They are all there because of circumstance, and not by choice,” she said. “Housing is an issue with all of them, with the additional cost of utilities, with no extra income.”

She noted the food bank has seen an increase of 89 clients over 2016 – averaging an addition seven people each month.

“We are attributing this to the increased cost of affordable housing in the County, as well as increased food and utility costs. And very little increase in incomes.”

In the past year, 2,909 people have received food from the organization – 25 per cent of the number were children. Norval said the food bank spent more than $53,314 on groceries for distribution and cannot place an exact dollar value on the food donations.

The Picton United Church Food Bank was founded in 1984, by members of the Mission and Stewardship Committee of the church and has run steadily over the past 33 years.
“We provide short-term assistance by acquiring and sharing food. The Food Bank is funded solely by donations and is run entirely by volunteers.”

Community members in need can register and may take home an emergency three to five days supply of fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods and pantry staples once per month.

“We also give milk, eggs and meat when we can. We also try to get personal products and basic household supplies to distribute,” said Norval. “Cash donations buy fresh produce, milk, eggs, margarine and some meat. We also have to buy canned and dry goods. We receive donations of bread and wonderful donations of local produce, when in season.”

But without cash donations, Norval said there would seldom be food in the food bank.

“What a wonderful organization 100 Peole Who Care PEC is. They are providing much needed income for many worthy charities. I intend to remain with them and hopefully help many others.”

The Prince Edward Learning Centre was the first receipient of funding from the group in October. Recipients cannot be nominated again for one year. Nominees drawn for voting must wait six months before their names can be entered again.